High on Hope coming to Murphy

Murphy – An event is coming to Cherokee County that will spread hope that people can overcome drug addictions.
“High On Hope – the Movement – Western North Carolina” will present a program for freedom over addiction beginning at noon Saturday, July 28, at Konehete Park.
“We want to leave an impact on the community and spread hope throughout the region,” said Tim Craft, a founder of the Parkersburg, W.Va.-based ministry. “It will be great to see the miracle God does in people’s lives.”
Craft was a 12-year opiate addict when he met Mack Mckenzie while going through the Eddie James Ministries DreamLife Program. After completing that program, they became directors of the program in Parkersburg.
Barry Getch of Hiwassee Dam was instrumental in getting High On Hope Ministries to come to Murphy, presenting a program last year at Journey Church.
The family friendly event has been expanded this year. It will include speakers, music, food, bounce houses for kids and much more.
Some of those present will be local recovering addicts, Andrews Police Chief J.J. Wooton, Murphy Police Chief Justin Jacobs, Cherokee County Sheriff Derrick Palmer, Erin Quinlan of Transformations, Kallup McCoy of RezHope, Jessica Butler of High on Hope, Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Jeana Conley, Andrews Mayor James Reid and Murphy Mayor Rick Ramsey, with music from Michelle Danae, Tru-Mog, Boha Tribe and Omar Fontanez. Members of the Coalition for a Drug-free Cherokee County also will be present.
“We have seen amazing fruit from this program,” Craft said. “We have seen people’s lives completely transformed. We have been to Pennsylvania, West Virginia and several Ohio Valley communities.”
When Craft was 18, he was exposed to opiate drugs while partying.
“I just started partying, and started innocently with pain pills,” he said. “I was actually prescribed them, and then I needed more and more, and that led to heroin and a needle.
“My vision is to house and help addicts find freedom through Jesus Christ. That is my goal.”
Getch echoed those comments. “We want to make the community and addicts aware there is help out there,” he said. “There is no judgment. If you want help, we are there. This is for any kind of drug addiction. We have resources where we can send people. Most are faith based.”
Craft said the efforts of the organization has spread starting in Lexington Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. In Wood County, W.Va., the overdose rate is 43 percent lower than before their program was presented.
“We are a resource, and we hope to see the same thing happen in Murphy,” he said. “We want the community to reach out to us. We want to get their loved ones into treatment.”
To register for a resource table, send an email to hohthemovement@gmail.com. High On Hope Ministries can be contacted at 517 Market St., Parkersburg, WV 26101; call 304-916-8468; or visit the website www.highonhopeministries.org.
“The heart behind this is to see the addition problem in the Murphy region do a drastic turnaround,” Craft said.